Hydraulic shock absorber



Nov. 22, 1932. H. FORD HYDRAULIC sHooK ABsoRBER Filed June 11, 1930 h//fness ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE HENRY NBD, OF DEABBORN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, OF

DEABBOBN, MICHIGAN,`A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HYDRAULIC snocx Ansonnnn.

Application led J'une 11,

hydraulic shock absorber of simple, durable,

and inexpensive construction. My improved shock absorber is of the rotary vane, com.-

monly known as the Houdaille type shock absorber. A f

More particularly my invention comprises a structure wherein the ordinary needle valve adjusting screw, usually associated with thistype of shock absorber, is dispensed with and a spring loaded valve substituted therefor, which valve servesto maintain a constant resistance to the flow of the hydraulic medium.'

In all types of hydraulic shock absorbers of which the applicant is familiar, either a fixed or an adjustable needle valve is provided through which the fluid medium is forced during an oscillation of the shock absorber. With all such shock absorbers a medium having a substantially uniform viscosity over a wide temperature range is needed or else a resetting of the needle valve adjustment for each change in temperature is required. It may be readily seen that if a constant adjustment ofi needle valve is maintained for both warm and cold weather and' the viscosity of' the fluid is varied due to temperature changes, the shock absorbing action will thereby be varied to defeat the purpose of the shock absorber. My improved device produces a predetermined shock absorbing action for each adjustment of the device regardless of the viscosity of the medium used so that ordinary machine oil may be used as the fluid therein instead ofthe relatively eipensive glycerine now required. Machine oil has a further advantage in that it is a much superior lubricant so that the wear on the parts is lessened to thereby prolong the life of the structure.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the arrangement, cony struction, and -combination of the various parts of my im roved odevice, as described in my speciicatlon, claimed in my claims,

" lustrate the construction.

1930. Serial N0. 460,312.

and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 41 shows a vertical central sectional 'view through my improved shock absorber, parts of the same being oriented to better il- Figure 2 shows a central Vertical sectional view, similar to Figure l, illustrating an alternate adaptation of my invention.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary sectional view illustrating still another alternate structure in which my invention is incorporated.

Figure'5 shows a sectional view, taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a cup shaped housing commonly associated with vane type shock absorbers which housing is providedwith a circular bore 11 through which a stationary vane 12 is diametrically secured across the bore by means of a pair of pins 13. The center portion of this vane is provided with an opening 14 which is piloted on a lug 15 projecting upwardly from the bottom of the housing 10 which serves to reinforce the ycenter portion of the vane. A headmember 16 is screwed into the upperpart of the bore 11 and a. shaft 17 is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing formed in this .bead member to rotate axially in the bore 11. That portion ofthe shaft 17 within the bore 11 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed rotary vanes 18, each of which operates in one of the chambers formed by the stationary vans 12 bisecting the bore 11. Thus, oscillation of the shaft 17 oscillates the rotary vanos in their respective chambers on each side of the stationary vanes.

I have provided an inverted cup shaped cover 19 which is screwed down over the housing 10 directly above the head 16. Aring 90 Referring to Figure 3, it may be seen that when the vanes 18 are oscillated in a counterclockwise direction, as shown by the arrow 24, both of the chambers 25 which are on the advancing side of the vanes 18 will be placed under an equal pressure, while both of the chambers 26 which are onthe retreating side of the vanes will beplaced under a suction. The 'lower end of the shaft 17 is provided with a diametrical slot 27 connecting the two chambers to thereby equalize the pressures therein. Likewise, a transverse drilled opening 28 is provided through the upper 25 section of that portion of thefshaft within the head 16 which opening connects the two chambers 26. ,I have rovided" an axial bore 29 through the shaft 1 which intersects both the slot 27 and the opening- 28 to thereby 80 form a connecting passagewa `between'the two sets of chambers, 25 an 26. Thus, a

counter-clockwise rotation of the vane 18 compresses the oil in both chambers 25 thereby forcinr it up through the bore 29 and out through the openings 28 into the chambers In devices of this character, it has been customary to providegan adjustable `needle valve for regulating the flow of oil throiigh the bore 29 to thereby adjust the shock absorbing action., However, unless a fluid having a constant viscosity is used, frequent adjustments are necessar to insure uniform action for the device. herein, I have provided means whereby a predetermined resistance or checking action 1s impressed on the oil flowing through the bolre 29, irrespective of the viscosity of the o1 Referring to Figure 1, a ball seat 30 is formed in the upper end of the bore 29 between the o ening 28 and the slot 27 and a suitable bal 31 is dis osed on this sea-t. .The upper portion of the s aft 17 is provided with Q5 an axial bore 32 in which a plunger 33 is reciprocally mounted. The lower end of the plun er 33 is provided with an extension 34 whic bears against the top of the ball 31. 6o The outer end of the bore 32 is providedwith pression spring 36 is disposed between this .cap on the plunger 33 to at all times resiliently` urge the lunger downwardly to thereby f ur e the bal 31 against the ball seat 30.

05 W en sullicient pressure is generated in the n the device shown.

a cap 35 threaded therein and a helical comoil in the chambers 25 the ball 31 is lifted oil the seat 30 to allowthe discharge of the oil. By varying the pressure of the s ring 36 the shock absorbing action may be a justed.

It may be readily seen that the viscosity of the fluid in the device has no effect u n its flow through the regulating valve so t at a predetermined resistance is given to the counter-clockwise movement of the shaft 17 regardless of the viscosity of the fluid.

As a positive check is provided by this regulating valve against the clockwise movement ofthe van es 18 other means must be provided for allowing the oil to flow from the chambers 26 back to the chambers 25 during the return movement of the arm 21. As this is the return stroke of the shock absorber, very little checking resista-nce is required or permitted during this stroke. A. pair of ball check valves 37 are mounted in the stationary vanes 12 whichare arranged so. as to allow the fluid to flow relatively freely from the chambers 26 to the chambers 25 but which ositively restricts flow of oil inthe reverse irection.

I have thus provided a device, the rotation of which when operating ina counter-clockwise direction will be restricted in pro ortion to the pressure of the spring 36 an irrespective of the viscosity of the fluid used therein.

Referring to Figure 2, I have shown an alternate structure wherein a simple cylindrical block 38 is provided in place of the lunger`33. This structure is somewhat c,1 eaper to manufacture and operates with suieient reliabilit for most shock absorbers.

Referrmg to Figure 4, I have shown still another alternate structure wherein a plunger 39 is reciprocally mounted in the bore 32,

which plunger is provided with a piston valve 40 formed on its lower end. The piston 40 extends into a bore 41 which intersects the opening 28 so as to close this opening from commuricaton with the slot 27. When suilicient pressure is generated beneath the plunger 40 it is raised against the action of the sprin 36. The novel feature in this onstruction is that I provide a. tapered groove 42 extending the length of the bore 40 which allows an increased flow of oil from the slot 27 to the opening 28 as the plunger is forced upwardly. This device eliminates any tendency of the device to chatter when oseillated rapidly.

Amon the many advantages arisin from the use o 'm improved device it may e well to mention t at ordinary lubricating oil having a wide range of viscosity ma. be used as the fluid medium therein and sti l a uniform resistance for the shock absorbing action'will be at all times maintained.

Some changes may be made in the arrangiament, construction, and combination of miA departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims such changes as may reasonably be included within the scope thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fluid shock absorber having a compression chamber and an expansion chamber and a passageway connecting said chambers, the actuation of the shock absorber forcing lo the fluid to flow from the compression chamber through the passageway into the expansion chamber, a valve cylinder in communication with said passageway and a spring actuated piston type relief valve disposed in said Icylinder and reciprocally mounted so that in its extended position said flow is resiliently obstructed and in its contracted position the passageway is unobstructed, said cylinder in which said piston is mounted having a tapered longitudinal slot therein forming a by-pass around said piston, saidslot being substantiallyYcovered-by the piston when it is extended by its spring and progressively uncovered thereby as the piston is reciprocated against this spring pressure whereby a cushioning effect will result in the closing of said relief valve to prevent chattering thereof.

' 2. In a fluid shock absorber, a housing having a cylindrical fluid containing bore therein, a stationary vane diametrically bisecting said bore, a rotary vane diametrically bisecting said bore and co-acting with the stationary vane to form four segmental fluid chambers, a pair of axially spaced passageways extending through said rotary vane connecting the diametrically opposite pairs of chambers,

an axial bore in said rotary vane forming a relief valve cylnder'which intersects both of 40 said passageways, and a spring actuated piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder so as to resiliently restrict the flow of Huid in one direction between said passageways, said cylinder having a tapered groove extending the length thereof so as to allow a gradually increased flow of fluid from one pair of chambers to the other as the piston is reciprocated against its spring, whereby a cushion effect will result on the return movement of the piston to prevent chattering thereof.

HENRY FORD. 

